The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-02-12

who stole an overcoat, handkerchief and shirt
in the spring Of 1907. He took his wife and fled
from the town with his loot, but was pursued,
brought back and tried Samuel Smith was
made Judge for the occasion, u jury of twelve
was impaneled, attorneys for the defense and
prosecution appointed, and all the forms Of law
complied with The jury found Brannon guilty and
the judge sentenced him to receive ten lashes
on the bare back, or to sit on his pony and have
his wife lead 1t to every house In the village pro-
claiming as she walked: 'This is Brannon, who
stole the great-coat, handkerchief and shirt"
Rev. j. b. Finley, afterward Chaplain of the
Penitentary, was order to see that the sentence
was properly executed. Brannon shrank from
the lash, and was accordingly proclaimed q thief
ut every door by his own wife.
Nearly all OF the first settlers were members
or adherents of the Presbyterian Church. In
the fall OF 1897 large log meeting house was
erected near the old graveyard, and Rev. Will
liam Speer, clergyman from Pennsylvania,
conducted its services. The sleepers were used
as seats for the congregation and split log
served as pulpit.
In 1898, after the families OF Colonel Worth
ington and DR.. THIN had arrived, the first mar
riage ceremony in the Scioto Valley was per-
formed The brides name was Elizabeth Coch-
ran and her husband was George Kilgore The
horses Of the wedding guests were tied to trees
In the street, which were not yet cleared the
whole town being in the wilderness.
DR.. THIN and his wife were the first Metho-
dists that lived in the Scioto Valley.
In 1900 the seat Of Territorial Government
was removed, by act of Congress, from Cincin-
natl to Chillicothe. The sessions OF the Terri
torial Legislature in that year and in 1901 were
probably held in q small two-story house Of
hewed logs. which stood on the corner OF Sec
ond and Walnut streets, and was built in 1893
by Bayil Abrams. There was q wing to the
main building, extending along Walnut street,
toward the river This wing was two stories in
height. In the lower room Thomas Gibson, the
Auditor Of the Territory had his office, and the
second story was occupied by "a family. The
second story Of the main building is supposed
to have been lounging place for members of
the Legislature, and there arc good many
stories about the gambling and drinking that
took place in 1t. The lower room of the main
building was used by the Legislature.
In the first year of this century work on the
first Capitol Of Ohio was commenced, and the
structure was such modest one that 1t was
finished in the following year. The masonry
work was done by Major William Rutledge,
soldier of the Revolution, and the wood
work by William Gutherie. The Territorial
Legislature held its session in this State for the
first time in 1901. The Constitutional Conven-
ton met in 1t on the first Monday of Novem-
Der, 1902. In April Of the following year the
first General Assembly OF Ohio met In the
State House at Chillicothe, and the sessions of
the succeeding Legislatures were held there
Assembly convened at GAINESVILLE, but Chilli
cothe was again made the place of meeting,
nnd 1t continued to be the Capital until 1916,
when Columbus became the seat of Govern
ment for Ohio, After the Capital was taken to
Columbus the State House was used for hold
ing Courts till 1t was torn down, in 1852 The
last speech made in 1t was ut q ratification
meeting after the nomination of Scott The
speaker was Colonel Gilmore.
Colonel John Mcdonald was one of the most
interesting and useful men that ever lived in the
Scioto Valley. He was modest and did not ad-
vance his own claims to distinction. but he has
left more work that is accessible and valuable to
historians than most OF his contemporaries.
John Mcdonald was descended from two sturdy
families OF the Scotch Highlands, but was him
self born In Northumberland County, Pa, on
the 2Sth OF January, 1775. His father lived for
while on the site OF Steubenvile. Like all young
men OF that time and condition John Mcdonald
grew up without early advantages but he was
an expert hunter and Indian fighter. He par
ticpated In several Indian battles, and In the
spring OF 17o2 joined General Massie's settle
ment ut Manchester. He was boatman, hum
ter and surveyor and took an active, important
part In all of the expeditions leading to the set
became attached to Masse. When the days OF
Indian fighting had passed and calmer times
came Mcdonald settled on q farm on Poplar
Ridge, and lived there till he died, September
II, 1888.
In the war OF 1879 he was Paymaster General
and o regimental quartermaster, and In 1914 was
In command OF o regiment at Detroit In 1877
he was member OF the State Senate, and held
other onices McDonald's important work was
that OF an author. He had no literary training,
but he had something 70 say, and he told II sim
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